Game 7: Memphis 108, Warriors 90

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry goes to the basket in front of Memphis Grizzlies defenders in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

MEMPHIS – News that Stephen Curry would return from his one-game hiatus with a left ankle bone bruise sent the sparse pregame crowd at the FedEx Forum into contrasting emotional states Saturday night.

A handful of fans starting cheering, because they “spent good money” for their courtside seats, but a Memphis usher just held her head in her hands and said, “No, no, no.”

Both sides ended up getting what they wanted as Curry put on a show in his return, but he was about the only Warrior with any steam remaining in the finale of a four-game roadie, and the Grizzlies bullied their way to a 108-90 victory.

The Warriors (4-3) looked like a team that was playing the second game of a back-to-back set and was pitted against a tough, hungry team. After winning a franchise-record 56 games and advancing to the Western Conference Finals last season, Memphis (3-3) hadn’t put it together under new coach Dave Joerger until the Warriors came to town.

The Grizzlies outrebounded the Warriors 44-33 and shot 53.2 percent from the floor. The Warriors had limited five of their first six opponents to less than 40 percent shooting for the first time since 1955-56.

But this wasn’t the same Warriors’ team that started the trip with wins in Philadelphia and Minnesota. It wasn’t even the same squad that came within two points of San Antonio with Curry on Friday.

The Warriors looked worn down and could manage only brief glimpses of energy. Many of those were provided by Curry, who had 22 points and five assists in 34 minutes.

Andre Iguodala added 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting, five rebounds and four assists, David Lee had 13 points and nine rebounds before fouling out, and Klay Thompson scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half.

The Warriors have lost 10 straight games to the Memphis, dating back to Nov. 3, 2010. They haven’t beaten the Grizzlies in Memphis since April 4, 2008.

The Warriors got off to a decent start, but after playing so well in the Minnesota on Wednesday, the reserves yielded a 13-5 run and allowed Memphis to take a 32-27 lead in the first quarter’s closing seconds.

The Grizzlies came into the game averaging nearly 18 turnovers per game, but they had only two late in the second quarter and were making more than half of their shots in taking a 14-point lead. So Jackson employed a zone defense for the first time this season, a decision that seemed to confuse Memphis and ignite the Warriors.

Behind five points and an assist from Curry and energy-providing dunks from Iguodala and Lee, the Warriors went on a 10-0 run in the half’s final 2:48 and salvaged a poor first half by going into the break trailing only 54-50.

The Warriors clawed all the way back, taking a 61-60 lead on a Thompson three-pointer with 9:38 remaining in the third quarter. It was their first lead since the 2:13 mark of the first quarter, but it didn’t last long.

Memphis responded with an 8-0 run and then pounded the ball inside to Randolph. The Warriors tried several different defenders on him and even double-teamed the power forward, but he scored straight Grizzlies points to five them an 86-72 lead with 1:25 left in the third quarter.